Illawarra proved their own worst enemy throughout the afternoon with poor ball control gifting Newcastle possession and field position throughout the match though they did fight there way back to lead 12-10 just after halftime.

The Rebels led 6-0 after nine minutes when skipper Brad Murray latched onto a wayward pass from Blake Phillips and darted 30 metres to score under the black dot. They pushed further ahead when powerhouse winger Marcel Ikinofo finished off a sweeping movement on the left edge to score in the corner to the extend the margin to 10-0.

Having had precious few opportunities with the football at Newcastle’s end, Illawarra slotted a penalty goal in the shadows halftime to cut the margin to 10-2 at the break. 

Junior Vaivai snatched back momentum for his side three minutes after the resumption when he latched onto an intercept and went the length score the cut the lead to 10-6.

Illawarra briefly took the lead 12-10 when  Alipate Noilea crossed before tries to Brendon Simpson and Callan Richardson took back the ascendancy at 22-12. A late field goal to Murray to sealed Newcastle’s first title since 2012.

The newly crowned champions were rewarded with nine spots in the Country Firsts side while Vaivai, Phillips, Joel Johnson, Jarrod Boyle and Stewart Mills earned call-ups from Illawarra.